Coca Cola's fairlife: Part 1 of CPF's investigation covered by NBC Channel 12

 Updated July 18th, 2025 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) has been historically misrepresenting the bear-human conflict, while still deceiving the public in order to appease developers and lobbyists who are FWC affiliates and commissioners with zero wildlife management background. FWC commissioner and developer Gary Lester encouraged the staff to propose a bear hunt without any legitimate science behind the current bear population or science behind the efficacy of a bear hunt mitigating bear-human conflict. Read a brief fact sheet in support of opposing the moves of a historically deceptive FWC.  

Florida black bears are a unique subspecies of the American black bear, and they are a keystone species in their ecosystem. Special interest groups, including  hunting organizations, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are pushing for a black bear hunt in Florida, despite public opposition, a lack of legitimate bear population data to support this move, and a lack of science to justify it . The FWC also continues to represent the hunt as "population control" on their website while publicly affirming a hunt as an oppurtunity for hunters "to harvest a resource." CPF will ensure wide public and legal ramifications on the FWC for deceptive practices. 

Studies consistently show that hunts do not reduce human-bear conflicts and rather may increase the problem. Bear biologists have proven that securing garbage, protecting farm animals, and removing bird feeders certainly serve to mitigate human bear conflict. 

CPF is collaborating with Bear Defenders in support of educational and advocacy efforts to promote public awareness of historically deceptive practices of the FWC.  Please consider signing the petition to prevent a trophy hunt that will only serve the myth of population control while inspiring hunters to continue illegally hunting bears. 

When communities start experiencing conflicts with bears, state wildlife agencies frequently institute a hunt or raise the quota of an existing hunt. But abundant studies indicate that hunting does nothing to resolve human-bear conflicts; hunters target bears in the woods, not the ones causing problems near human habitation. Hunting also does not permanently reduce bear populations. According to numerous studies, numbers actually rebound with the increased availability of food.

How can you help prevent this reckless trophy hunt:

1. Sign and share the petition.
2. Email the FWC and tell them you oppose any trophy bear hunt in Florida.
3. Attend the FWC meeting in May and help advocate. 
4. Follow Bear Defender on social media for the latest updates. Stop The Bear Hunt!